Does a transmission swap hurt the value of the car?

[Bthorne]

Hi, I was looking at a e30 325ix and found out it had been swapped from an automatic to manual. I was wondering if this would change the value of the car significantly or not. Haven’t seen a lot of examples out there that have been sold like that.

[mbad7]

Hi, I was looking at a e30 325ix and found out it had been swapped from an automatic to manual. I was wondering if this would change the value of the car significantly or not. Haven’t seen a lot of examples out there that have been sold like that.

Well...here in Europe that swap would make the price go up a bit if anything...

[Bthorne]

Ok yeah I mean I assumed a bit compared to an automatic but I just wasn’t sure compared to other original manual made cars.

[mbad7]

Ok yeah I mean I assumed a bit compared to an automatic but I just wasn’t sure compared to other original manual made cars.

Shouldnt really putt it in a hole, aldough oem is oem....

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[pbonsalb]

I hope you would not want an automatic E30. The swap would add value to me because otherwise I would have to do it myself.

[MarcoZandrini]

I think part of the answer is how well the swap was done. But, here in the US I don’t think it’d hurt the value of the car. I bet someone who is looking for an E30 ix would like the manual transmission.

[Bthorne]

Ok yeah thank you

- - - Updated - - -

Yeah no I like the manual I was just thinking when it was time to sell the car if I’d be able to get the same as a car that has been a manual since production

[pbonsalb]

Not from a car collector who wants an all original car. Are you a car collector or do you plan to sell to a car collector? If so, but a low mileage, mint condition, one owner all original car and store it in your garage until you are ready to pass it on to the next guy.

Or just drive it and enjoy it and don’t worry.

[Bthorne]

No I am not a car collector and I was going to drive it myself and then possibly sell it after driving it for a bit. It is already a higher mileage car so it would sell for cheaper anyways. So wasn’t sure how much it would change the value if the car was already on the cheaper side.

[pbonsalb]

I would think more people who planned to do the same thing you will be doing would prefer the more durable, reliable and simpler manual trans. Older design autos like the ones used in BMWs until the early 2000s also substantially underperformed their manual counterparts.

[MarcoZandrini]

Especially when BMW touted lifetime fluids!